One Little Gene Could Explain Our Big Brains

Researchers find a gene — active only in humans — that drives neural development.

By Linda Marsa
Nov 30, 2015 6:00 AMNov 12, 2019 4:08 AM
brain-gene.jpg
The human-specific gene ARHGAP11B is expressed only in the right half of this embryonic mouse cerebral cortex. The folded right side shows the increased surface area caused by introducing the gene, compared with the smooth left side. | Marta Florio and Wieland B. Huttner/Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics

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